Squiggler

Canadian Border: WTF???

Sounds like we are building that SECURITY fence on the wrong border. Aren't SECURITY guards supposed to deal with SECURITY threats? :: rolling eyes :: (H/T: Tammy Bruce)

Guards walk off job at four B.C. border crossings

Canadian border guards at four crossings in the Lower Mainland of B.C. have walked off the job in response to a security scare.

CTV Vancouver reported Sunday night that lineups at four crossings into Canada are massive. Gary Barndt reported from the station's helicopter that the lineups appeared to be several kilometres long at one crossing...This was the first time she could recall all four crossings been affected this way.

The situation started in the afternoon when U.S. Homeland Security officials told the RCMP that a suspected killer from California, who should be considered armed and dangerous, might try to cross the Canadian border.

They thought he was heading northward towards Anacortes, Wa.on a motorcycle -- located about 60 kilometres due south of the border, but sharing a ferry route with Sidney, B.C. -- where a motorcycle rally was taking place. Many Canadians attended the Oyster Run, as it's called.

The RCMP informed the border guards, who walked off first at Huntington at 2:15 p.m. , then the other three crossings. About 60 guards are believed to be off the job.

Sometimes even a lady has to say ... WTF?

What kind of insanity is this?

Border Agents Thrown in Jail for Chasing Drug-Smuggling Alien

By Van Helsing

Last February Ignacio Ramos responded to a request for backup from fellow Border Patrol agent Jose Alonso Compean, who had noticed a suspicious van near the Rio Grande River in the El Paso area. The van turned out to be carrying 800 pounds of marijuana. The two of them and another agent chased Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, an illegal alien and drug smuggler who headed back for Mexico on foot.

Shots were fired. Ramos saw Compean on the ground bleeding and kept chasing the criminal, who turned toward him and apparently pointed a gun. Ramos shot at him and seemed to miss. Aldrete-Davila got into another van that was waiting for him on the other side of the river and escaped.

It turns out the bad guy was wounded in the buttocks during this incident. Here's how our authorities handled the matter:

Aldrete-Davila was given full immunity and free medical treatment. Ramos and Compean were arrested for violating his civil rights. ... Continued

An eye roller or in the "for Pete's sake" category ...

Dept. of Unintended Consequences [Mark Krikorian]

I was told last night by a Hill staffer that since National Guard on the border are unarmed, the Border Patrol in some instances is having to guard the Guard! So there may well be fewer agents actually patrolling the border because of the Guard deployment — and it's at least worth an enterprising reporter trying to find out if that's actually the case.

This is one reason I've departed from my Republican counterparts over the immigration issue. Idiotic! Unintended consequences indeed.

Jeff Goldstein says it best: "Perfect!  Now if we can just get the Minutemen to guard the Border Patrol who are busy guarding the National Guard troops, we will have come full circle."

BDS, the Canadian version ...

Toronto Imam Claims Evidence Was Planted, Blames Bush

By Gateway Pundit

Of course, this imam who heads the mosque attended by the arrested Canadian terror suspects has a long history of associating with accused Al Qaeda members...

The Pakistani Daily Times says that the police planted the evidence on the Toronto terrorists. How do they know that? Because the terror linked Imam at the mosque they attend says so: ... more

Terror on our borders - UPDATED & bumped

By BETH DUFF-BROWN
Associated Press Writer

            TORONTO
   

        Seventeen Canadian residents were in custody Saturday on terrorism- related charges, including plots to use explosives in attacks on Canadian soil, authorities said.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they arrested 12 male adults and five youth and foiled plans for terrorist attacks against targets in southern Ontario.

Officials showed evidence of bomb making materials, a computer hard drive, camouflage uniforms and what appears to be a door with bullet holes in it at a news conference Saturday morning.

"This group took steps to acquire three tons of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices," said assistant Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner Mike McDonell said.

McDonell said that is three times the amount used to blow up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

The arrests were made Friday, with some 400 officers involved.

McDonell said the suspects were either citizens or residents of Canada and had trained together.

"The men arrested yesterday are Canadian residents from a variety of backgrounds. For various reasons they appeared to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaida," said Luc Portelance, the assistant director of operations with CSIS _ Canada's spy agency.

Heavily armed police officers ringed the Durham Regional Police Station in the city of Pickering, just east of Toronto, as the suspects were brought in late Friday night in unmarked cars which were drove into an underground garage.

The Toronto Star reported Saturday that Canadian youths in their teens and 20s, upset at the treatment of Muslims worldwide, were among those arrested.

The newspaper said they had trained at a camp north of Toronto and had plotted to attack CSIS's downtown office near the CN Tower, among other targets.

Melisa Leclerc, a spokeswoman for the federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, had no comment on the arrests.

In March 2004, Ottawa software developer Mohammad Momin Khawaja became the first Canadian charged under the country's Anti-Terrorism Act for alleged activities in Ottawa and London. Khawaja was also named, but not charged, in British for playing a role in a foiled bomb plot. He is being held in an Ottawa detention center, awaiting trial.

The Canadian anti-terrorism law was passed swiftly following the Sept. 11 assaults, particularly after Osama bin-Laden's named Canada one of five so-called Christian nations that should be targeted for acts of terror. The others, reaffirmed in 2004 by his al-Qaida network, were the United States, Britain, Spain and Australian, all of which have been victims of terrorist attacks.

The anti-terrorism law permits the government to brand individuals and organizations as terrorists and gives police the power to make preventive arrests of people suspected of planning a terrorist attack.

Though many view Canada as an unassuming neutral nation that has skirted terrorist attacks, it has suffered its share of aggression, including the 1985 Air India bombing, in which 329 people were killed, most of them Canadian citizens.

Intelligence officials believe at least 50 terror groups now have some presence in the North American nation and have long complained that the country's immigration laws and border security are too weak to weed out potential terrorists.

Related:

Canadians Used Internet Monitoring To Stop Terror Attack

Canada Discovers Terrorist Plot

Brendan Loy writes:

Thomas Galvin asks: “For all those who are quick to blame the West for the world’s ills, what did Canada do to ‘deserve’ this?”

InstaPundit muses: “It’s also interesting that this happened at almost the same time as the major bust in London. So what’s cooking here in the United States?” A good quesiton.

Glenn also notes that “Internet monitoring” was a key aspect of the investigation that led to this bust. The Toronto Star has more on that aspect.

Michelle Malkin has a list of the would-be terrorists’ names. ThreatsWatch calls them “twelve adult Muslim jihadists and five juveniles…some of them second-generation Canadian citizens and some of them recent immigrants.” Canada’s National Post says they are “homegrown extremists…young followers of the al-Qaeda ideology.” The Star elaborates, calling them “Western youths who have never set foot in Afghanistan but allegedly were radicalized here, and who are thought to be potentially as dangerous as the cells that once took orders from Osama bin Laden. Western governments, including Canada’s, have repeatedly warned of this phenomenon and blamed recent attacks, such as last July’s bombings in London, as the work of such groups.” The Canadian authorities themselves called the plot “al Qaeda-inspired,” according to CNN.

Canadian Jihad

Missing: One Suicide Vest (fitted with a chemical spray)

Terror Suspects Arrested in Canada with updates

Terror suspects demand Korans

The Times and Democrat has this little scary tidbit:

FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko, in Washington, D.C., said there may have been a connection between the Canadian suspects and a Georgia Tech student and another American who had traveled to Canada to meet with Islamic extremists to discuss locations for a terrorist strike.

Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, U.S. citizens who grew up in the Atlanta area, were arrested in March.

“Alleged Canadian terror plot has worldwide links”

[Jeff Goldstein says:] Although to be sure, lots of buildings and public transit venues in a number of countries remains intact as a result—and thousands of innocent civilians were probably spared.  Still, though—a small consolation indeed if it turns out some “spy agency” plucked a conversation out of space and used it to zero in on these guys.

I, too, wondered about the timing of this operation in relation to the recent London raid. With all the attention being given to our Southern Border, I can't think of a more perfect time for terrorists to use our long Northern Border. I wish I had more confidence in our intelligence services. It will be interesting to find out if the Georgia Tech arrestee and his compadre, who were arrested in March, spilled the beans that led to both the London and Toronto raids.

_________________________________

UPADATE via Instapundit :

ROGER SIMON: "I can't say I'm surprised it took eight paragraphs before the New York Times deigned to tell us what might be behind (have motivated) the arrest of 17 people in Ontario over the last couple of days. In fact it takes them six paragraphs before they even name any names. And of course they hasten first to make sure we know most of these men (not yet identified as Islamists) are "young people," shades of the French linguistic obsession with les jeunes, lest we might think them representative of a hostile ideology. This political bowdlerization is accomplished in paragraph four. Think for a moment how the Times would have constructed an article (has constructed many articles) about the malfeasance of US servicemen. They sure wouldn't bury the lede."

UPDATE: The sounds of silence.

ANOTHER UPDATE: More on the Canadian effort here.

And more on the post-bust spin here. There's also lots more over at Canadian newsblog Newsbeat1.

DON SURBER IS FISKING THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL on Haditha. Read the whole thing, and fire off a copy to Bill Keller.

The clearly evident Bush-bashing glee over this stuff is both pathetic and poisonous.

UPDATE: Dan Riehl compares the amount of coverage of Haditha and the terror busts.

ANOTHER UPDATE: A reader emails: "So how long before Anderson Cooper reports that the mayor of Haditha has stated that there are rampant murders and rapes going on inside the Haditha Superdome?"

That hasn't happened yet?

Look, this is a serious matter. But the gleeful piling-on -- and there's a lot of that, as Surber demonstrates -- makes it seem less serious, not moreso. Those who would reduce war crimes to mere partisan footballs are not manning the bulwarks of moral seriousness, however much they might adopt that pose.

I recommend this column by Mark Steyn, too: "A superpower that wallows in paranoia and glorifies self-loathing cannot endure and doesn't deserve to." I could say the same thing for alleged "flagship" media operations.

 

Via Ace of Spades: Liberal Blogs Silent On Massive Terrorism Bust

Via Gateway Pundit:

Canadian Mounted Police Bust Up Toronto Terror Group

This is interesting news... When did Canada enter the War in Iraq? Isn't that the reason the terrorists hate us?
Hmm.

Illigal Immigration - the scope of the problem

Many, myself included, have been wondering why the illegal immigration issue suddenly became the national focus. Why now? What precipitated the full court press on this ongoing problem. I live down here on the Southern Border and I have been aware, since first coming to this area in 1967, that there is and was a problem of long standing. My big complaint was how we have gradually made it easier and easier for illegals to operate in the country with the coddling the left has insisted on giving them. From requiring bilingual ballots and bilingual instructions on everything to giving them driver's licenses, to free medical services, to school entry all in the name of civil liberties, the problem has grown to a point where it is spilling over into other parts of the country. I guess now that the problemn is cropping up in Nebraska or New Jersey, it is suddenly "out of control." We in the border states have been smothering under these problems for decades now.

Curiouser and Curiouser gives us some perspective in a post entitled The Scope of the Problem and referencing an article in the San Francisco Chronicle:

No question there is a problem. Whether it is really at the crisis proportions the latest round of news cycles has made it out to be or that some far right bloggers want it to be is a matter for you to decide. But to deny there is a problem is foolish. We here at The Squiggler support the President's suggestions and we urge Congress to stop huffing and puffing and set about to come up with reasonable and practical solutions.

Calling all fence builders ...

From Breitbart / AP:

The Senate voted to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border Wednesday and clashed over citizenship for millions of men and women who live in the United States illegally.

Amid increasingly emotional debate over election-year immigration legislation, senators voted 83-16 to add fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border. It marked the first significant victory in two days for conservatives seeking to place their stamp on the contentious measure.

The prospects were less favorable for their attempt to strip out portions of the legislation that could allow citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants and create new guest worker programs.

The Senate acted in a volatile political environment, as the White House struggled for a second day to ease the concerns of House Republicans who contend that President Bush favors amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Thousands of demonstrators massed a few blocks from the Capitol demanding immigrant rights.

Construction of the barrier would send “a signal that open-border days are over. … Good fences make good neighbors, fences don’t make bad neighbors,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. He said border areas where barriers already exist have experienced economic improvement and reduced crime.

And from Dopey Durbin (GAG!):

“What we have here has become a symbol for the right wing in American politics,” countered Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. He said if the proposal passed, “our relationship with Mexico would come down to a barrier between our two countries."

Although I'm not a supporter of fencing our borders because of the impracticality of it, I have no problem with fencing in high traffic areas, especially if the erection of a fence will divert the traffic to areas that are more easily patrolled and the illegals easier to spot and apprehend. I would like to point out that this was obviously a bi-partisan vote (83-16), despite Dopey Durbin's remarks

President Bush speaks to the Nation - with overnight updates - more afternoon updates

Morning Update: 

OVERNIGHT CNN POLL:

79 percent of Americans had a "very positive" or "somewhat positive" reaction, and only 18 percent had a "negative" reaction.

_________________________________

This is going to be short and sweet.

My take on the President's speech (video here) to the Nation on securing our borders was: EXCELLENT. A 5-point plan that, as far as I can see, covers all bases. His point that we must accomplish all aspects of the plan in order to have success, leave one or more parts out and the entire solution is doomed to failure, is spot on. I also like and strongly support the use of electronic fences and unmanned aerial vehicles to supplement patrol of the wilder areas along the thousands of miles of border. I was glad to hear the President highlight the addition of these controls.

After speech reaction =

King and Tancredo are hypocrites and obstructionists. "... rather have no bill than a bad bill ... President's plan has no chance." This tells me they are all hot air and no substance. I would go so far as to say, with their reaction, it tells us they don't want border reform and all their bluster is just playing politics. Boo on both of them!

Michelle Malkin - "too little too late" made her sound like a spoiled brat.

Democratic talking points, you pick which one -- "same ol'" loved the question, "what has Bush been doing for the last five years?" Oh, I don't know ... maybe he was busy winning the War on Terror and having to address moonbats like you.

Bill O'Reilly -- positive reaction although he wishes the number was 15,000 rather than 6,000 National Guard.

A roundup from Instapundit includes:

JOE MALCHOW LIKED THE SPEECH. "This is the best offer American sovereigntists —which is to say almost everyone, whether they realize it or not—will have for a long time."

Jonah Goldberg: "My guess is he sounded pretty reasonable to most Americans not already deeply committed on the issue of immigration."

Hugh Hewitt calls it "a good start."

Mark Tapscott thinks it sounds familiar.

John Hinderaker thinks Bush blew it.

Ed Morrissey: "President Bush tried reaching for the center -- a position he has occupied on this issue all along. He tried a one-from-column-A, two-from-column-B approach that probably will leave all sides more or less dissatisfied. His declaration that catch-and-release would end was the most welcome news in the entire speech. He delivered that well and sounded forceful and presidential, but most people will wonder why this practice didn't end on September 12, 2001."

An "A" from Black Five:

OK,

I score that speech an A for content and for maybe the first time an A for delivery. I have no quibbles with any of the action items because he made the first one securing the borders. And since nobody other than Chuck really believes we would round up millions of people, some amnesty lite was gonna come, plus I like bio-metric IDs.

He admitted we do not control our borders, and said we will fix that, good. Let's see what Congress does.

And perhaps my very favorite comment, by MacsMind. Go read it all, it is hard hitting and hilarious at the same time. I agree completely with him.:

NOTE: Vent to the Whiny-Baby Republicans out there:

Stay home on election day because your're pissed at Bush?

Go ahead. Kiss your family goodbye after November 8th.

I don't know who's more full of crap on this issue the so-called "shoot the bastards" pundits or the clueless Democrats, but this immigration issue isn't going to be fixed by taking your ball and staying home on election day.

This problem didn't begin in 2001 and isn't going to get fixed by 2008 or beyond. Fact is that whether you like it or not or believe it or not WE created this problem not President Bush. You might not like his solutions or plan, but calling him "El Presidente" is childish and moronic.

So in closing, stay home if you want. But do us another favor - stay there. We don't need you.

Also via MacsMind is this UPDATE:

Alexander at Polipundit breaks ranks and joins sanity.

"The President announced that he will oppose amnesty. In his own words, “It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently – and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law, to pay their taxes, to learn English, and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship – but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty – it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.”

If you think that is amnesty, then you are either a moron or a liar. If you are truly a Republican to begin with, if you are truly a conservative, then you will applaud this speech and support the reforms he has articulated. Otherwise, you are not a Republican. You are not a conservative. You are a LIAR. A LIAR"

I'm afraid he's right. The line of who is and who isn't truly Conservative and who is a "wingnut" is becoming very clear. Again, now I know that there are those on the right with a totally different agenda than the rest of us - the majority of us.

JOHN PODHORETZ on the immigration debate: from Podhoretz mouth to the Nation's ears ... we absolutely 100% agree here:

"The immigration debate is a very heated and passionate one, and the heat and passion on the part of those on the restrictionist side have been useful tools for pushing the conversation in your direction. But there's a difference between heated disagreement and the insistence on lock-step uniformity. . . . This inability to stomach disagreement on a hot-button issue should be troubling to anyone and everyone who has found an intellectual home on the Right — in part to avoid the kind of crippling self-censorship that has afflicted the P.C. Left."

Yes. If you find yourself sounding like a Kos diarist, step away from the blog and take a break, lest you do for your cause what the Kossacks have done for theirs.

It is good to see there is more than one sensible voice out there on the more conservative side of the blog world. I was beginning to get worried. AJ Strata weighs in, go read it all. Here is a taste:

*** Addendum:  I want to be clear that I am all for debate.  But when debate is over and an idea has or is being rejected (like the deportment and detainment schemes) those who are serious join back together and move on.  I am for strong laws, background checks, the fence/wall and one strike your out (never to get a second chance).  Which doesn’t make me ‘moderate’ or ‘pro amnesty’. People need to ask themselves a question about who they want on their side. Someone like me are someone like young Adolph here***

For all those flaming the anti-immigrant flames, let me show you a glimpse into an ugly future: [READ IT ALL HERE]

____________________________

A reader emails regarding Michelle Malkin:

"Too little, too late." 

 

OTOH:  It's a start.  Get a life, Michelle.  What's the matter?  The WH didn't ask you to draft the policy?

 

I'm pissed at her smarmy ridicule of a good, sensible, tactful message, even if it is overdue.  Like I said in my post a month or so ago,"...details can be worked out."  Bush pretty much covered the same ground I did, and I'm gled to hear what he said. 

 

Fuck her!

Unfortunately, BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) which has been a charge against the lefty looneys and moonbats has now morphed into BDS (Border Derangement Syndrome) and has totally eclipsed the far right of the Malkin wing of the Republican party. I'm with AJ and Mac, who needs you? You guys are going to hand the reigns of government over to the looneys all because you are in a selfish snit. Get over it. Either contribute something useful to the discussion or SHUT THE "EF" UP!!!!!

________________________________

Afternoon UPDATE:

The following is a post at BMEWS. We are quoting it almost in entirety because it is worthy of being spread to as many as can see it. BMEWS has an open thread to discuss the issue and we would encourage you to take a look and join an active discussion HERE.

The Idjits Speak

In Democrats, Illegal-Aliens

 

Argue with the President all you want in the posts below this one but remember that any action is going to have to have the cooperation of Congress and guess what’s going to happen there? Take a look at the comments below from leading assholes Democrats and Liberals. Get the picture? You and I may have problems with aspects of President Bush’s plan but it will surely fail if these Donk goobers continue to howl at the moon and get in the way of any plan of any kind that comes from Bush or the GOP. Touch choice, ain’t it? We can nitpick the plan and watch the Donks get what they want (control of Congress in November) or we can go along with the damn plan and hope for the best. Did somebody mention something about a “rock and a hard place”? The New York Times: “Some of the border state governors, Democrats in Congress, and others immediately raised questions about the practicality of the plan.” (Jim Rutenberg, “President Calls For Compromise On Immigration,” The New York Times, 5/16/06) DNC Chair Howard Dean: “Unfortunately, at a time when we needed real leadership, we once again heard a political PR campaign filled with an unrealistic short-term fix, rather than a detailed long term solution.” (Stephen Dinan, “Bush Calls For Guard On Border,” The Washington Times, 5/16/06) Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “It is not enough for President Bush to tell us he wants to increase security at our borders. After all, he’s had five years to do it. If he wants to be credible on border security, he must acknowledge his mistakes and commit to fixing them.” (Mark Silva, “President Calls For Balance On Border,” Chicago Tribune, 5/16/06) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “We must protect our borders, but militarizing our borders is a desperate response by the president to his and Republican Congress’ policy failures.” (Mark Silva, “President Calls For Balance On Border,” Chicago Tribune, 5/16/06) Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM): “[I]’m very skeptical as a border governor that deals with this issue every day of the National Guard deployed at the border.” (CNN’s “Larry King Live,” 5/15/06) Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): “Democrats are willing to support any reasonable plan that will secure our borders, including deploying National Guard troops ... But Americans don’t want a plan that’s been cobbled together to win political favor.” (David Espo, “Bush Proposes Sending Troops To Border,” The Associated Press, 5/16/06) Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D-OR): “Within the conservative wing of the Republican Party ... [the President’s plan] may be good politics. But it is lousy policy.” (Mark Silva, “President Calls For Balance On Border,” Chicago Tribune, 5/16/06) "[DNC Chair Howard] Dean Said His Party Will Make Immigration An Issue As Part Of Its Strategy To ‘Nationalize’ The Fall Elections And Is Opening A Television Advertising Campaign ..." (Ralph Z. Hallow, “Dean Calls The Border Top Priority,” The Washington Times, 4/20/06) Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): “I think politics got in front of policy on this issue.” (Carl Hulse and Rachel L. Swarns, “Blame And Uncertainty As Immigration Deal Fails,” The New York Times, 4/8/06)

Amazing border tunnels

It is amazing what is going on practically in my own back yard. Sounds like it is going to cost a little more to get high in So. Cal. in the coming months.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 — Drug smugglers have dug one of the longest, most sophisticated tunnels discovered in recent years along the Mexican border, and the American and Mexican authorities have hauled nearly two tons of marijuana out of it since they entered it on Wednesday, officials said.

David Maung/Associated Press

The authorities believe smugglers moved drugs through this tunnel, about half a mile long, between Tijuana, Mexico, and Otay Mesa, Calif.

David Maung/Associated Press

Mexican law enforcement officers standing next to packages of drugs removed from a smugglers' tunnel that was unearthed on Wednesday.

The tunnel is 60 feet below ground at some points, five feet high, and nearly half a mile long, extending from a warehouse near the international airport in Tijuana, Mexico, to a vacant industrial building in Otay Mesa, Calif., about 20 miles southeast of downtown San Diego. The sophistication of the tunnel surprised officials, who found it outfitted with a concrete floor, electricity, lights and ventilation and groundwater pumping systems.

The authorities said a tip led to the discovery.

"The tunnel is absolutely amazing," said Michael Unzueta, special agent in charge for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency's San Diego office. "It is probably the biggest tunnel on the southern border so far."

On the American side, agents found about 200 pounds of marijuana in the building in Otay Mesa, which had several bays for tractor-trailers. On the Mexican side, drug agents found a pulley system at the entrance to the shaft and several thousand pounds of marijuana and hauled it out for several hours Wednesday. Mexican authorities also found seven cellphones, two trucks, a van and various documents in the warehouse, according to a statement from the Mexican attorney general's office. [MORE HERE]